Study on biomass degrading ability of land crab, Chiromantes haematocheir

Many land crabs are herbivorous or omnivorous and survive by eating plant material and its detritus. Chiromantes haematocheir land crabs are also thought to be partly herbivorous since they eat fallen or green leaves and survive only on plant material in the laboratory. Therefore, the herbivorous characteristics of these crabs might contribute to the matter cycle between seaside forests and coastal waters. It is probable that the land crabs possess enzymes for biomass degradation, such as cellulase and lignin peroxidase. The study goals are detection and analyses of these biomass degrading enzymes.